27. Eating Disorders and the Mind/Body Disconnect with Danielle Novack, Ph.D

Dr. Danielle Novack is a pioneer in the world of psychoanalysis and eating disorders. She’s the one who writes the papers I use for myself. She has a profound way of understanding one’s relationship with food and is sharing some of that with us here. If you’re into unconscious processes, this is your episode. Danielle talks about the topic of dissociation, how it happens, why it happens, and how it comes out throughout our lives. We break down how we see the mind-body disconnect in various ED symptoms. And most importantly, we identify how in the world a person can work through it. A bit more about her: Dr. Danielle Novack is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Manhattan. She has over 20 years of experience working with eating disorders and concerns related to food, weight and body image. She has written scholarly articles and chapters on the psychoanalytic treatment of eating disorders, and she serves as a clinical supervisor for psychology doctoral students. Dr. Novack is currently completing her psychoanalytic training at the NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis.   [0:01-1:54] Introductions Introducing our guest speaker   [1:55- 12:44] The Mind and Body Connection: Conceptualizing Eating Disorders Eating disorders develop as a mean of protection and also maintain a sense of protection  Dissociation and how does it happen? What is trauma? Eating disorder behaviors are often stagnant feelings that cannot be felt as feelings Eating disorder symptoms can be used to dissociate from feelings   [12:45- 19:07] Eating Disorder and Restrictions How some people discover that restricting allows them to feel less Dissociation in the binge-purge cycle Temporary relief is not necessarily addressing the problem Other ways to address bingeing  Inserting a pause between the urge and act Slowing the cycle down and giving yourself a moment to reflect   [19:08-25:44] Ability to Tolerate Emotional Experiences Often people don’t learn how to regulate emotions Becoming aware of your emotional experience  Shifting consciousness and losing yourself in the process What happens when a person continues to engage in dissociation and why is it harmful?   [25:45- 41:34] Challenges in addressing dissociation and disconnect  What causes the dissociation to develop at the first place? It’s the symptoms that will bring the person into treatment  Address the symptoms first How do we begin the healing process? Be aware of the symptoms and reflect where it’s coming  The symptoms can also be a substitute for meaningful relationships Building relationships with your therapist and team is part of the treatment process Get to the root of the problem and the underlying issues    [41:35-42:25] Outro Where to find Dr. Danielle Novack?   Resources Mentioned: Dr. Danielle’s Website   Tweetable Quotes:   “I see eating disorders as failed attempts to self-regulate.” - Dr. Danielle Novack   “Not knowing what’s going on in our body, we can’t possibly create connections” -Rachelle Heinemann     LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone who may need this podcast by sharing this episode.   You can connect with me, Rachelle Heinemann on Instagram, through my website www.rachelleheinemann.com, or email me directly at [email protected]